A Letter from Saskatchewan, 1927

A LETTER FROM SASKATCHEWAN, 1927
MARTIN FORSMAN
The f o l l o w i n g l e t t e r was w r i t t e n by M a r t i n F o r s m a n , who was
e v i d e n t l y b o r n in C h i c a g o of S w e d i s h p a r e n t s a n d in the 1 9 2 0s
t r i e d his h a n d at f a r m i n g n e a r S t r a s b u r g , S a s k a t c h e w a n , at a
time w h e n many S c a n d i n a v i a n A m e r i c a n s w e r e seeking their
f o r t u n e s in t h e C a n a d i a n p r a i r i e p r o v i n c e s . H e l a t e r r e t u r n e d to
C h i c a g o a n d e v e n t u a l l y m o v e d to Yakima, Washington, where a
d a u g h t e r still resides. T h e l e t t e r was a d d r e s s e d to his g o od
f r i e n d , C. Joseph E r i c k s o n in C h i c a g o , whose son, R o b e r t J.
E r i c k s o n of C h i c a g o , r e c e n t l y f o u n d it a n d s e n t it on to us.
F o r s m a n ' s l e t t e r g i v e s a g l i m p s e of a c o u r a g e o u s a n d
g o o d - h u m o r e d m a n f a c i n g t h e h a r d s h i p s a n d d i s c o u r a g e m e n ts
of what was still l a r g e l y a f r o n t i e r way of life in w e s t e rn
C a n a d a .
* * *
Dear Joe, Feb. 21, 1927
Just a few lines to let you know we are still alive and also to
acknowledge with many thanx your timely slips of blue—(2 in
number). Since I wrote you last, quite a bit has transpired—the
grim reaper has been here and yes, a little girl, but she was
stillborn and Dot was pretty sick. Believe me, it isn't any joke, to
be eleven miles from town, and nobody but myself in attendance
at such doings; the doctor just got there a few minutes before
time. He had quite a battle with the elements; 30 below and a
blizzard to buck with a pair of broncs, 'sno fun, but all in the
game up here in this neck of the woods.
I guess Dot's misfortune was caused by worry—she worries
over financial matters more than I do; and this eternal sacrificing
of this and of that (even the most essentials often) just gets her. I
called your money orders timely; by this I meant that I have used
a little of this (about $25.00) for coal and medicine etc. I'm sure
you won't mind. I think by skimping along we will get thru, as
some of the cows are due to freshen this month, and we will be
able to sell a little cream and butter. The balance, I think I'll use
to reduce some of the accounts.
162
Wheat or any grain, same as bulls or any stock, even humans,
by being inbred and using the same sires over and over, becomes
weak and run out. Our wheat has been used continuously since
we got here and is getting poor. I have a chance to trade my seed
for something better, but I can't trade even, as this other man's
wheat is only third generation stuff and sown on new land. . . .
Gosh, Joe, if you knew all we've been thru up here. . . . I
suppose you'd still know me, tho I hear you belong to the
ultra-select and are worth close to half a milyun. That's the
rumors that float up here occasionally. . . . I don't mean to
insinuate anything; as I said— mere rumor—so I'm glad to have
you and Anna as you were, old stand-bys as of yore. . . .
This is the second nice day we have and it looks as if we are
due for some nice weather. It's been 30—40 below all the time,
and lots of snow. It rained quite a bit last fall, so it looks as if we
might have a good lot of moisture and this means a good crop,
here's hoping.
Had a line from Wallie and he says another old timer has
passed away—Mrs. C. Jernberg, but our Heavenly Father has so
decreed and our fate rests with him. . . . Good luck to you.
I'd like to hear that pipe organ at Englewood and C. J.
Erickson directing the Kör [choir]. Them were de happy days
with old Bluck leading us—still we had good times if you'll
remember.
We do a little choir and some quartette stuff once in a while,
but we have no talent whatever. None of the boys can fake
harmony as we used to; everything must be written out. Do you
& Brainey and E d still hum up a tune (as Ed used to say) or is
that old stuff? Just the same I'd like to get with the old gang and
sing barrles or bass profundo just once again. Sounds foolish but
when you've been isolated the way I am, one just can't help but
get a hankering when one thinks of times that have gone.
I'm rather lengthy, and so I will close soon. Give our very best
regards to Anna and the kids; Dot Hälsar especially to your wife
and say she is getting stronger day by day. Everybody round here
had the flue except us, so I've had my hands full, being her
nurse, doing housework and chores—gay life I'll say. Again
thanking you and hoping for an early reply, I remain.
Your Old Friend
Swan
163

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A LETTER FROM SASKATCHEWAN, 1927
MARTIN FORSMAN
The f o l l o w i n g l e t t e r was w r i t t e n by M a r t i n F o r s m a n , who was
e v i d e n t l y b o r n in C h i c a g o of S w e d i s h p a r e n t s a n d in the 1 9 2 0s
t r i e d his h a n d at f a r m i n g n e a r S t r a s b u r g , S a s k a t c h e w a n , at a
time w h e n many S c a n d i n a v i a n A m e r i c a n s w e r e seeking their
f o r t u n e s in t h e C a n a d i a n p r a i r i e p r o v i n c e s . H e l a t e r r e t u r n e d to
C h i c a g o a n d e v e n t u a l l y m o v e d to Yakima, Washington, where a
d a u g h t e r still resides. T h e l e t t e r was a d d r e s s e d to his g o od
f r i e n d , C. Joseph E r i c k s o n in C h i c a g o , whose son, R o b e r t J.
E r i c k s o n of C h i c a g o , r e c e n t l y f o u n d it a n d s e n t it on to us.
F o r s m a n ' s l e t t e r g i v e s a g l i m p s e of a c o u r a g e o u s a n d
g o o d - h u m o r e d m a n f a c i n g t h e h a r d s h i p s a n d d i s c o u r a g e m e n ts
of what was still l a r g e l y a f r o n t i e r way of life in w e s t e rn
C a n a d a .
* * *
Dear Joe, Feb. 21, 1927
Just a few lines to let you know we are still alive and also to
acknowledge with many thanx your timely slips of blue—(2 in
number). Since I wrote you last, quite a bit has transpired—the
grim reaper has been here and yes, a little girl, but she was
stillborn and Dot was pretty sick. Believe me, it isn't any joke, to
be eleven miles from town, and nobody but myself in attendance
at such doings; the doctor just got there a few minutes before
time. He had quite a battle with the elements; 30 below and a
blizzard to buck with a pair of broncs, 'sno fun, but all in the
game up here in this neck of the woods.
I guess Dot's misfortune was caused by worry—she worries
over financial matters more than I do; and this eternal sacrificing
of this and of that (even the most essentials often) just gets her. I
called your money orders timely; by this I meant that I have used
a little of this (about $25.00) for coal and medicine etc. I'm sure
you won't mind. I think by skimping along we will get thru, as
some of the cows are due to freshen this month, and we will be
able to sell a little cream and butter. The balance, I think I'll use
to reduce some of the accounts.
162
Wheat or any grain, same as bulls or any stock, even humans,
by being inbred and using the same sires over and over, becomes
weak and run out. Our wheat has been used continuously since
we got here and is getting poor. I have a chance to trade my seed
for something better, but I can't trade even, as this other man's
wheat is only third generation stuff and sown on new land. . . .
Gosh, Joe, if you knew all we've been thru up here. . . . I
suppose you'd still know me, tho I hear you belong to the
ultra-select and are worth close to half a milyun. That's the
rumors that float up here occasionally. . . . I don't mean to
insinuate anything; as I said— mere rumor—so I'm glad to have
you and Anna as you were, old stand-bys as of yore. . . .
This is the second nice day we have and it looks as if we are
due for some nice weather. It's been 30—40 below all the time,
and lots of snow. It rained quite a bit last fall, so it looks as if we
might have a good lot of moisture and this means a good crop,
here's hoping.
Had a line from Wallie and he says another old timer has
passed away—Mrs. C. Jernberg, but our Heavenly Father has so
decreed and our fate rests with him. . . . Good luck to you.
I'd like to hear that pipe organ at Englewood and C. J.
Erickson directing the Kör [choir]. Them were de happy days
with old Bluck leading us—still we had good times if you'll
remember.
We do a little choir and some quartette stuff once in a while,
but we have no talent whatever. None of the boys can fake
harmony as we used to; everything must be written out. Do you
& Brainey and E d still hum up a tune (as Ed used to say) or is
that old stuff? Just the same I'd like to get with the old gang and
sing barrles or bass profundo just once again. Sounds foolish but
when you've been isolated the way I am, one just can't help but
get a hankering when one thinks of times that have gone.
I'm rather lengthy, and so I will close soon. Give our very best
regards to Anna and the kids; Dot Hälsar especially to your wife
and say she is getting stronger day by day. Everybody round here
had the flue except us, so I've had my hands full, being her
nurse, doing housework and chores—gay life I'll say. Again
thanking you and hoping for an early reply, I remain.
Your Old Friend
Swan
163